CM Mohan Yadav joins Chhath Puja celebrations at Prempura Ghat
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav joined Chhath Puja Mahapurva celebrations at Prempura Ghat in Bhopal on 15 November 2026, participating in the major Hindu sun-worship festival observed widely by communities from Bihar and eastern UP settled across the state.
Key Takeaways
Mohan Yadav attended the Chhath Puja Mahapurva programme at Prempura Ghat, Bhopal on 15 November 2026 .
Chhath Puja is a multi-day Hindu festival of fasting and sun worship, observed primarily by communities from Bihar, eastern UP, and Jharkhand .
Prempura Ghat is a prominent riverfront site in Bhopal used for religious observances.
Mohan Yadav has been Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh since December 2023 , representing the BJP .
Participation in Chhath Puja is consistent with the state government's pattern of cultural engagement with migrant communities across MP.
At the banks of Prempura Ghat in Bhopal on Sunday, 15 November 2026, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav stepped into one of the year's most visually striking riverfront gatherings — the Chhath Puja Mahapurva — joining thousands of devotees in a festival that stops cities and transforms their waterfronts into seas of prayer and offering.
Chhath at Prempura Ghat: What the festival means
Chhath Puja is among the most demanding and deeply personal of Hindu observances — a multi-day ritual of fasting, standing in water, and offering arghya (water offerings) to the rising and setting sun, dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. Observed with particular devotion by communities from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, the festival has steadily grown in cities across central India as migrant populations have brought its traditions with them.
Prempura Ghat in Bhopal, the state capital, has become one of the focal points for these celebrations in Madhya Pradesh, drawing Chhath devotees from across the city to its riverside for the ceremonial vigils.
A CM on the ghat: the politics of cultural presence
Dr. Mohan Yadav, who took office as Chief Minister in December 2023 representing the BJP, has made public participation in major festivals a visible part of his outreach. Attending Chhath Puja carries particular weight: it signals solidarity with the substantial Bihari and eastern UP migrant community settled across Madhya Pradesh's towns and industrial belts — a community whose cultural calendar revolves around this festival above almost all others.
State chief ministers participating in major regional and community festivals is a well-established pattern in central Indian politics. The gesture costs little and communicates much — that the government sees, and shows up for, communities whose roots lie beyond the state's borders.
Chhath, with its insistence on open riverbanks, communal vigils, and no priestly intermediary, is also one of the few major festivals that is entirely people-led. A Chief Minister standing on that ghat is, in that sense, meeting the community entirely on the community's terms.
Point of View
With its mass Bihari and eastern UP following, carries real electoral weight in industrial towns across Madhya Pradesh. The pattern of CM-level festival attendance has intensified since the 2023 assembly elections, as the government seeks to consolidate its multicommunity coalition ahead of future electoral cycles.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chhath Puja and why is it celebrated?
Chhath Puja is a major Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya, involving fasting, riverbank vigils, and water offerings to the rising and setting sun. It is observed primarily by communities from Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
Where is Prempura Ghat in Bhopal?
Prempura Ghat is a riverfront location in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, commonly used for religious bathing and festival observances including Chhath Puja.
Who is the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2026?
Dr. Mohan Yadav is the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. He took office in December 2023, representing the BJP.
Why do politicians attend Chhath Puja events?
Attending Chhath Puja events allows state leaders to engage directly with migrant communities from Bihar and eastern UP, which form a significant part of the urban population in many central Indian states including Madhya Pradesh.
When is Chhath Puja celebrated in 2026?
In 2026, Chhath Puja fell on 15 November, as reflected in Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav's participation in celebrations at Prempura Ghat in Bhopal on that date.
